Dynamic pitching has been the staple for New Bern’s baseball team the past few seasons. But, with a few new bats in the lineup, the Bears feel good about their ability to drive in runs.

“The last couple of years, we’ve had good defense. This year, we have to hit,” said senior infielder Austin King. “We have to back our pitching up with our bats.”

The Bears, coming off a 17-win season a year ago, return their top three hitters in the batting order – King, catcher Chandler Seagle and outfielder Colin Schmid.

“All three of us got on base last year, and we are going to do the same this year, but we have to have people drive in runs,” King said.

Duncan Musselwhite smacked two doubles in a scrimmage game last week. Victor Spellman, Xander Vizcarrando and Thomas Clemens are other solid hitters.

New Bern only scored 3.6 runs per game last season.

“The kids we got from our JV team, five or six of them are pretty good offensive players,” New Bern coach Gary Smith said. “I feel like we can put out a pretty strong lineup on the field.”

New Bern lost sluggers Josh Taylor, Kyle Gaskins and Trent Wynn off last season’s squad.

While the offense appears promising, Smith said he has nine pitchers capable of getting varsity hitters out.

Bailey Jones, who recently signed to pitch in college at Mount Olive, will replace Whitman Barnes as the ace.

The senior will be joined in the rotation by William Peace signee Cole Green, and Schmid.

Seagle, an Appalachian State recruit and New Bern catcher, will be key out of the bullpen, along with Chase Swisher.

Nine pitchers combined on a no-hitter in last week’s scrimmage against Tarboro.

“The plan is to pitch by committee and try not to run our starters too deep into the game,” Smith said.

The Bears have six seniors, and 15 juniors filling up the roster.

“They can be very very good. Our last couple of years, our pitching and defense has spoken for itself,” Smith said. “We just haven’t been able to score a lot of runs, and we’ve won a lot of 3-2 ballgames.

“This year, we have the potential to put up some runs.”

New Bern will compete in the 3-A/4-A Eastern Carolina Conference this season against D.H. Conley, South Central, Eastern Wayne, Southern Wayne, J.H. Rose and C.B. Aycock.